Three dead in courthouse shooting in Delaware

Police confer outside the New Castle County Courthouse, Monday morning, Feb. 11, 2013, in Wilmington, Del. , after a man killed his estranged wife and two others at the courthouse. The mayor of Wilmington says police have killed the gunman. (AP Photo/The News Journal/William Bretzger)

By RANDALL CHASEAssociated Press

Published: Monday, February 11, 2013 at 10:08 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 11, 2013 at 5:51 p.m.

WILMINGTON, Del. — State Police say three people have died in a courthouse shooting in Delaware.

Delaware State Police Sgt. Paul Shavack confirmed three people died in the shooting Monday morning at the New Castle County Courthouse in Wilmington. He said the suspected gunmen and two women are dead. Shavack said police had not confirmed that one of the women was the shooter’s estranged wife, though earlier in the day the city’s mayor said that was the case.

Two police officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Shavack said officers exchanged gunfire with the shooter in the courthouse’s lobby before he passed metal detectors. He did not say whether the shooter killed the two women or whether they were killed in the gunfire. Shavack also did not say how the shooter died.

Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.